New Member from Marina del Rey

[Susan French]

My husband, Tom Rowe, and I bought our 2003 Jeanneau 43 DS two years ago and, aside from spending some time in Ensenada, have spent our time on short trips to Catalina, Newport, and Long Beach/Los Angeles harbors. I retired in June so we have more time for sailing now. We just returned from a 2-week trip up the coast to Santa Barbara and then out to Santa Cruz Island. We are still on a steep learning curve about managing all the mechanical and electrical systems on board (neither of us is very mechanical) and are looking forward to learning alot from cruisers forum.

[Ex-Calif]

Hi Susan and welcome aboard.

My brother and I rented a few times out of Marina Del Ray. He's since moved back up to San Jose.

Never did the Catalina thing. It's on my list. My brother was actually born on the island.

I am so jealous of your retirement!

[Healer52]

Welcome! I used to hang out in MDR too.

[Stillraining]

Welcome aboard..

[Jerry Woodward]

Welcome. I too used to live near MDR, and have sailed to Catalina several times.

[Capt Phil]

Now that you have spent a couple of years aboard a great boat, it sounds like you are ready for an expansion of your cruising horizons. A great beginner cruise with lots of company if you you are nervous about heading farther afield alone would be the Ba-Ha-Ha cruise that leaves San Diego around Nov 1. Check the Latitude 38 web site for exact dates and list of events. There are usually a fair number of folks new to the cruising life who make the trip down the Baja coast and enough experienced cruisers to help out with advice along the way. Just remember that you have to return up the coast at some point. There was a book out years ago called the Baja Bash which chronicles the trip 'up hill' that you should read before heading south beyond Ensenada. As you haven't done a lot of coastal passage making yet, I would avoid heading north until springtime as weather can be nasty north of Pt Conception between now and late spring 2011. While it is doable, the weather cells roll down the coast with shorter and shorter intervals between them and places to hide are not too plentiful on some stretches. Welcome to you both... CF is a great place to ask questions and learn from others experience. Just remember, the advice is worth exactly what you pay for it... cheers, Capt Phil

[SkiprJohn]

Aloha and welcome aboard!
Looks like you're getting your feet wet. Good to have you here on the forum.
regards,